FOOTBALL

Indiana Football vs Illinois: Key players, notes and opening spread

Published

6 months ago

November 7, 2023

Nov 4, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Isaiah Williams (1) celebrates his touchdown during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. © Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana football travels to Champaign to face the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium this Saturday.

Illinois comes into this game with a record of 4-5 with wins against Toledo, Florida Atlantic, Maryland, and Minnesota. The team’s losses came against Kansas, Penn State, Purdue, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Kickoff is set for Noon ET on Saturday and the game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

Here is a look at some of the key players, notes and the opening spread.

Key players

QB Luke Altmeyer: The redshirt sophomore quarterback transferred to Illinois this offseason from Ole Miss. In two seasons with Ole Miss, Altmeyer played in nine games, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions. The former four-star recruit has had trouble taking care of the ball with the Fighting Illini, throwing 10 interceptions in nine starts in 2023. The 6-foot-2 200-pound quarterback has thrown for 1,883 passing yards on with a completion percentage of 64.8%, throwing 13 touchdowns and adding three touchdowns on the ground.

RB Kaden Feagin: The freshman running back has been a huge contributor early in his college career after committing as a three-star (247sports) athlete that played all over the field in highschool. In first-career start against Maryland he totaled 97 yards and a touchdown which earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. The 6-foot-3 250-pound running back is averaging 4.7 yards per carry, totaling 418 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.

WR Isaiah Williams: The fifth year junior committed to Illinois as a four-star dual threat quarterback before moving to wide receiver in his third year with the Fighting Illini. In his first two years at wide receiver, he totaled 1,306 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10 185-pound receiver caught 82 passes in 13 games in 2022. In nine games this year, Williams leads the team in total yards, receiving yards and catches. Williams has 59 catches, 721 total yards and three receiving touchdowns.

WR Pat Bryant: The junior wide receiver was a three-star recruit when he committed to the Fighting Illini in 2020. Bryant’s role has increased each year, increasing his yards total from 98 yards to 453 yards from his freshman to sophomore year. The 6-foot-3 200 pound wide receiver is a proven red zone target, leading the Fighting Illini in touchdowns with five. In nine games in 2023, Bryant has caught 31 passes for 384 yards, both statistics are second on the team, only behind Isaiah WIlliams.

LB Dylan Rosiek: The redshirt sophomore linebacker has broken onto the season for the Fighting Illini defense in 2023. Rosiek committed to Illinois as a three-star recruit in 2020. The 6-foot-1 230-pound linebacker has been a playmaker for the Illinois defense, forcing three fumbles and breaking up two passes. Rosiek leads the team in fumbles forced and tackles with 54 including 4 tackles for loss in nine games in 2023.

DT Jer’Zhan Newton: The junior defensive tackle is in his fourth year with the Fighting Illini and playing 32 games in his first three years. In that time he made 135 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one fumble forced, and two fumble recoveries. The 6-foot-2 295-pound interior defensive lineman is a game wrecker for the Fighting Illini defense. In nine games in 2o23, Newton leads the team in tackles-for-loss with 5.5 and sacks with 4.5. Newton also has two pass break ups and one forced fumble on the season.

DB Xavier Scott: The sophomore defensive back committed to the Fighting Illini as a three-star recruit in early 2022. Scott played in 11 games as a freshman where he made 15 tackles, one pass breakup and a forced fumble. The 5-foot-11 190-pound defensive back made his first career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State. Scott has been a playmaker on the back end of the Illinois defense, playing in all nine games, making 44 total tackles, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and forcing one fumble on the season.

OLB Seth Coleman: The junior outside linebacker is in his fourth year with the Fighting Illini after committing as a four-star recruit in 2018. Coleman has made 80 tackles, 11.5 tackles-for-loss, 6.5 sacks and eight pass breakups in 24 games. The 6-foot-5 245-pound linebacker is second on the team in sacks and tackles-for-loss only behind Jer’Zhan Newton. Coleman has totaled 39 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, four sacks and two pass breakups in nine games in 2023.

Other Notable Players:

Tip Reiman TE, Jr.

Tahveon Nicholson DB, Jr.

Kenenna Odeluga LB, So.

Nicario Harper DB, Sr.

Zachary Tobe DB, Fr.

Keith Randolph Jr. DT, Jr.

Key Notes

Indiana football is 25-44-3 against Illinois all time with the first matchup taking place in 1899
Indiana football won its last matchup against the Fighting Illini in 2o22, winning 23-30 at home

Indiana has won its last four matchups against Illinois dating back to 2012
Indiana won the first matchup between the schools in 1899, 5-0 in Champaign
Illinois HC Brent Bielma is 17–17 during his time at Illinois

Tom Allen is 2-0 against Illinois as head coach of Indiana
This marks just the third meeting between the two programs since the Big Ten East/West Divisions were formed in 2014